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News: Miles, Oyalade Help Men's Hoops Shoot Down Mt. SAC

With several Pasadena City College players in foul trouble, including South Coast Conference North Division top scorer Taj Spencer, the Lancers turned to a pair of freshmen Wednesday. Lancers' guard Adrian Miles supplied the long-range baskets and center Faruk Oyalade took care of business at the free throw line as visiting PCC defeated rival Mt. San Antonio, 70-63.

With eight minutes left, the Lancers trailed, 49-42. At that point, Miles started to heat up. The 6-foot-2 guard from Pasadena High drilled three 3-point baskets, including a corner bomb that gave PCC a 56-55 lead with 4:09 remaining. PCC maintained the lead the rest of the way.

Miles, who made his final four shots from the field, scored 14 of his game-high 19 points in the second half. Oyalade, a 6-7 center from Amazing Grace High in Nigeria, also became an offensive source as Mt. SAC continually fouled the freshman as he worked for attempts in the paint. Oyalade sank 11 of 16 free throws in the half (12-for-18 overall) and talled 13 of his 14 points (and pulled down a team-high nine rebounds) over the final 20 minutes. The pair combined for 27 of the team's 42 second-half points.

The Lancers, ranked No. 13 in the SoCal regional poll but dropped out of the state top 20 rankings, improved to 14-5 and 2-1 in the SCC. Mt. SAC, the defending CCCAA state champion, is 8-7 and last in the North Divison at 0-3.

Sophomore point guard Jeffrey Dockett added 13 points, four assists and three steals while Spencer, who played his frosh ball at Mt. SAC two seasons ago, was limited to nine points, seven rebounds, three assists and two blocks. Both players fouled out. When Dockett was resting, another freshman, guard Jevon Shields, provided some key minutes. Shields (South Pasadena High) scored five points, made two steals, and led the Lancers by dishing out five assists.

For Mt. SAC, Stephaun Branch was a one-man show with 16 points, seven rebounds and an impressive seven steals.

[Late edit]--The Lancers host Los Angeles Trade Tech on Friday, Jan. 17 in a 5 p.m. tip-off at Hutto-Patterson Gymnasium. Four teams are now tied for first place in the North Division with PCC, East Los Angeles, LA Trade Tech and El Camino-Compton Center with 2-1 division records.

[Photo--Adrian Miles goes up for a jumper during PCC's win at Mt. San Antonio College Wednesday, image by Richard Quinton, sports information photographer.]